Normalisation method and normalisation system for a dried blood matrix

Abstract

The present invention relates to a normalisation method for a dried blood matrix, said method comprising the steps: providing the dried blood matrix, extracting at least one analyte from a first portion of the dried blood matrix and haemoglobin from a second portion of the dried blood matrix, quantitatively analysing the at least one extracted analyte and the extracted haemoglobin, determining a concentration of the at least one analyte in the first portion of the dried blood matrix and a concentration of the haemoglobin in the second portion of the dried blood matrix, deriving the haematocrit of the second portion of the dried blood matrix on the basis of the concentration of the haemoglobin, and calculating a normalisation factor on the basis of the determined haematocrit in order to normalise the concentration of the at least one analyte in the first portion of the dried blood matrix. The invention also relates to a normalisation device (10) for performing a method according to the invention.

1 . Normalisation method for a dried blood matrix, comprising the steps:
 providing the dried blood matrix,   extracting at least one analyte from a first portion of the dried blood matrix and haemoglobin from a second portion of the dried blood matrix,   quantitatively analysing the at least one extracted analyte and the extracted haemoglobin,   determining a concentration of the at least one analyte in the first portion of the dried blood matrix and a concentration of the haemoglobin in the second portion of the dried blood matrix,   deriving a haematocrit of the second portion of the dried blood matrix on the basis of the concentration of the haemoglobin, and   calculating a normalisation factor on the basis of the determined haematocrit in order to normalise the concentration of the at least one analyte in the first portion of the dried blood matrix.   
     
     
         2 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   for the quantitative analysis of the haemoglobin, at least one peptide fragment of the haemoglobin is quantitatively analysed and a concentration of the at least one peptide fragment in the second portion of the dried blood matrix is then determined, wherein the concentration of the haemoglobin in the second portion of the dried blood matrix is concluded on the basis of the concentration of the at least one peptide fragment.   
     
     
         3 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   the quantitative analysis of the haemoglobin or of the at least one peptide fragment is carried out on the basis of a repeated selection of analyte-specific mass fragments generated in a mass spectrometer.   
     
     
         4 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   the quantitative analysis of the haemoglobin or of the at least one peptide fragment is carried out on the basis of analyte-specific mass-to-charge ratio signals, m/z.   
     
     
         5 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   for the quantitative analysis of the haemoglobin, the haemoglobin is enzymatically cleaved through the addition of a peptidase.   
     
     
         6 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   a plasma equivalent concentration of the at least one analyte is determined on the basis of the normalisation factor.   
     
     
         7 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   the at least one analyte is extracted from the dried blood matrix by means of an extraction liquid.   
     
     
         8 . Normalisation method according to  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   the at least one analyte is extracted from the dried blood matrix using an organic solvent.   
     
     
         9 . Normalisation system ( 10 ) for a dried blood matrix, comprising
 an extraction unit ( 11 ) for extracting at least one analyte from a first portion of the dried blood matrix and haemoglobin from a second portion of the dried blood matrix,   an analysis unit ( 12 ) for quantitatively analysing the at least one extracted analyte and the extracted haemoglobin,   a determination unit ( 13 ) for determining a concentration of the at least one analyte in the first portion of the dried blood matrix and a concentration of the haemoglobin in the second portion of the dried blood matrix,   a derivation unit ( 14 ) for deriving a haematocrit of the second portion of the dried blood matrix on the basis of the concentration of the haemoglobin, and   a calculation unit ( 15 ) for calculating a normalisation factor on the basis of the determined haematocrit in order to normalise a concentration of the at least one analyte in the first portion of the dried blood matrix.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled)